Scotty Cardle plans to turn on the style in Nottingham

Cardle steps up to eight round action for the first time on
the undercard of Carl Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title defence
against Yusaf Mack at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, with the
lightweight talent facing Mexican Miguel Aguilar.

The 23 year old
is aiming to impress the packed Arena and fans watching on Sky Sports
HD1 and on Sky 3D, with the Lytham fighter ready to look at boxing for
titles at the start of 2013.

“There’s added pressure boxing live
on Sky Sports but that’s a good thing,” said Cardle. “I’ve always coped
well with pressure and I think it will help me perform to my best on
Saturday. 

“We’ve talked about title fights but I have to take it
one fight at a time. The step up in rounds will mean people will start
looking at me and deciding whether I am ready for title shots, but
there’s no rush for me as the progression is looking good.

“I feel ten-round fit in the gym and now it’s a case of switching on mentally to stepping-up in rounds and class of opponent.

“Training
to step up to eight rounds has been the best I have felt as a pro. I
have stepped my training up as I have stepped up the rounds. I’m
training for 10 rounds really so I am prepared fully for an eight-round
fight.

“I have only done two full six-rounders but I always knew
it would be a quick step up, it is what myself, my trainer Joe Gallagher
and promoter Eddie Hearn want, so it is definitely the right time. I
have to take my time in picking my fights and picking strategies for
lots of fights but my training for Saturday fight has been 100 per cent
and it has been the same for every fight.

“One thing I said at
the very start was that I didn’t want any easy fights because I wanted
to be learning every single time. The first two fights I had were
journeymen and I learnt a lot, especially about the pro style. I have
stepped up with every fight since then and I have picked up on little
things each time, which is helping me as I go further down the line.
With each step up I am getting more comfortable and more relaxed with
the pro game.”

Last time out for Cardle, he faced his toughest
opponent to date in Frenchman Karim Aliliche, who brought five wins from
eight fights to the ring on the undercard of Kell Brook’s World title
eliminator clash with Hector Saldivia in Sheffield last month.

Cardle
followed a learning curve in Belfast in September – where he cut a
frustrated figure against Francis Maina – with a confidence boosting
first round win over Luis Garcia in Blackpool, and against Aliliche he
learnt even more against an opponent that was hard to track down.

“There
was no footage of him so I didn’t really know what I was going in for,”
said Cardle. “I prepared as best as I could and I prepared for the very
best opponent and I think that worked because he was a very tough kid
who could take a shot. He came back with a few counter shots that I had
to be aware of as well so I am happy with how it went.

“I am
learning every time I fight. Obviously you will have little switch offs
every now and again and you can easily be caught by them, so I have to
stay switched on, especially for this one. I have been watching my
opponent and I know I need to stay switched on for him because it is a
step up.

“I went the distance in Sheffield and I think I needed
those full six rounds just to test my fitness. When I am facing six
rounds I train for eight and now I am fighting eight rounds I am
training for 10. I know deep down that I am better than him but I
definitely needed that full six rounder just to keep my confidence
going.”

Cardle boxes again on December 8 in Betfair’s ‘Christmas
Cracker’ and he has a clear picture of where he wants to be when the
season draws to a close next summer.

“The plan is to do eight
rounds tonight and I have a potential opponent lined up for December at
the Olympia in London,” said Cardle. I obviously take each fight as it
comes but that is another fight I am looking forward to. It will be my
last fight of the year and hopefully I can end unbeaten.

“I want
to be 9-0 by the end of the year. I want to keep stepping up and
hopefully get the chance to fight for a title early next year. That is
my early target for 2013, an area title or an English title. But that
all depends on my performances and my results so it is down to me t get
that and achieve those goals that I want.

Cardle has drawn praise
on Sky Sports fight nights and Ringside but tonight he boxes live on
Sky Sports for the first time. Stablemate and former Team GB teammate
Kal Yafai also boxes live on Sky Sports tonight and made his live bow on
the Sheffield card, and Cardle hopes to impress like the Birmingham
talent did in Sheffield.

“Kal impressed a lot of people that
night and that is the power of Matchroom Sport and the power of Sky
Sports,” said Cardle. “Kal got the live exposure that night and made the
most of it. It is something I want and I believe Saturday’s fight is
the first one on the live broadcast so I am looking forward to having
that exposure.”

courtesy of Matchroom Boxing